So if AAA knocked something loose in the door, the door lock button, and all the key locks in the rest of the car, would go off-line?

Currently, the door lock button is completely dead. And, if i put the key in the driver door, not the door that was slim-jimmed, and lock or unlock, only that door opens and closes. It used to be that all the locks in the whole car would react.

Just to make sure, this is the Double Lock System that I'm talking about, correct? Maybe this is some other problem I dont know about.

Please help. I called BMW and they want me to bring the car in. That's all they ever want. I understand it's their business and they need as many service cars as possible. I've just moved and dropped $4,000 cash. I'm too broke to repair this at the dealership right now.

check fuses, check relays - when you use key in the driver's door, it locks/unlocks mechanically. check to see what's up with electrical connections - most BMWs are wires so, that when you have an electrical break (slilm jim sliced a wire), the module is not operating or operating in certain way to indicate trouble. try the key in trunk keyhole, it should operate in a similar way. normally, when system is working properly, holding a key in "double-lock" position will close windows and sunroof too.

E36, E34, E53... Those are chassis designations, E stands for for something in German, something like chassis or engineering, the numbers are not really sequential, they are internal production numbers that become official designators for series, once the model becomes production. I had E34, which is 5 series from 1989 (or 88) to 1995(or 96), that included sedans and wagons from 518 all the way up to M5, both gas and diesels. E36 is a 3-series upto sometime in 94-96 that included cars from 316ti (circumcised version) upto M3 and even I think Z3 was designated as E36. That is how the bimmer junkies distinguish between models, since most of the parts are interchangeble within E designation and sometimes across E models.

Does anyone have a picture, video, or just a good description of the inside of the door and the actuator?

Reason is someone else was looking at the inside of my door and knock the actuator off...and I do NOT know how it re-attaches to the locking mechanism.

Meaning, I'm holding the actuator in my hand, and I can't see inside the door well enough to see if the actuator attaches to the top, side, someplace else on the actual physical lock. I'm I clear with that?

Does it attach someplace on top of the lock in the door, or on the side facing the front of the car, or on the back-side facing out, etc...I know I sound dumb but I can't figure out where to re-attach it!